Virtual parking management

Abstract

An apparatus manages vehicle parking services in a flexible and cost efficient manner. Service information for vehicle parking in a spatial and time varying parking area is received at a vehicle from a parking service management apparatus. A geographical position of the vehicle relative to the parking area is determined and forwarded to the parking service management apparatus. These communications can trigger issuance of a vehicle parking ticket at the parking service management apparatus based on the geographical position of the vehicle.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A virtual parking meter apparatus, comprising:
 a communication unit adapted to receive service information for vehicle parking in a spatial and time varying parking area from a parking service management apparatus; 
 a positioning unit adapted to determine a geographical position of a vehicle in the spatial and time varying parking area; and 
 a ticketing unit adapted to send a ticket request to request issuance of a vehicle parking ticket at the parking service management apparatus in accordance with the geographical position, the received service information, and a user of the virtual parking meter apparatus being authenticated as a valid user of parking services in the spatial and time varying parking area by a parking service management apparatus receiving the ticket request from the virtual parking meter apparatus and authenticating the user responsive thereto. 
 
     
     
       2. The virtual parking meter apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the ticketing unit and the positioning unit are integrated within the vehicle or are integrated within a mobile telephone device. 
     
     
       3. The virtual parking meter apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a display, speaker, and/or keyboard for user interaction. 
     
     
       4. The virtual parking meter apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication unit is configured for mobile wireless communication. 
     
     
       5. The virtual parking meter apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the positioning unit comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) positioning device. 
     
     
       6. The virtual parking meter apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle parking ticket comprises a tariff that is adjusted based on the spatial and time varying parking area. 
     
     
       7. The virtual parking meter apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the ticketing unit is further adapted to adjust a tariff associated with the spatial and time varying parking area. 
     
     
       8. A parking service management apparatus, comprising:
 a parking information unit adapted to store and manage spatial and time varying parking areas and service information for vehicle parking; 
 a communication unit adapted to:
 disseminate the service information for vehicle parking to a spatial and time varying parking area, and 
 receive a ticket request from a vehicle or an on-site parking meter apparatus, wherein the ticket request at least indicates a geographical position of a vehicle requesting the ticket; and 
 
 an authentication unit adapted for authentication of a user of parking services responsive to the ticket request that was received; and 
 a ticketing unit adapted to issue a vehicle parking ticket in accordance with the geographical position and service information for vehicle parking, and responsive to the authentication of the user. 
 
     
     
       9. The parking service management apparatus in accordance with  claim 8 , further comprising a maintenance unit adapted to maintain spatial and time varying parking areas and service information for vehicle parking stored by the parking information unit. 
     
     
       10. A method of operating a virtual parking meter apparatus, comprising the steps of:
 receiving service information for vehicle parking in a spatial and time varying parking area from a parking service management apparatus; 
 determining a geographical position of a vehicle in the spatial and time varying parking area; and 
 sending a ticket request to request issuance of a vehicle parking ticket at the parking service management apparatus in accordance with the geographical position, the received service information, and a user of the virtual parking meter apparatus being authenticated as a valid user of parking services in the spatial and time varying parking area by a parking service management apparatus that receives the ticket request from the virtual parking meter apparatus and authenticating the user responsive thereto. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the receiving service information and the determining the geographical position of the vehicle are carried out by a device in the vehicle. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the receiving service information and the determining the geographical position of the vehicle are carried out by a mobile telephone device. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the receiving service information comprises receiving the service information through a wireless communication network. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the determining the geographical position of the vehicle is carried out at least in part by a Global Positioning System (GPS) positioning device. 
     
     
       15. A method of operating a parking service management apparatus, comprising the steps of:
 storing and managing spatial and time varying parking areas and service information for vehicle parking; 
 disseminating the service information for vehicle parking to a spatial and time varying parking area; 
 receiving a ticket request from a vehicle or an on-site parking meter apparatus, wherein the ticket request at least indicates a geographical position of the vehicle requesting the ticket; 
 authenticating a user of parking services responsive to the receiving the ticket request; and 
 issuing a vehicle parking ticket responsive to the authenticating the user and in accordance with the geographical position and service information for vehicle parking. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the receiving the ticket request and the issuing the vehicle parking ticket are carried out by the parking service management apparatus. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the disseminating the service information comprises communicating the service information through a wireless communication network. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising determining the geographical position of the vehicle requesting the ticket using Global Positioning System (GPS) positioning device. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising repetitively updating the spatial and time varying parking areas and service information for vehicle parking responsive to each receipt of a ticket request.